Russian Special Services confirm Arab militant's death

Arab militant leader is dead in the troubled North Caucasus region. Abu Havs and 4 associates were killed on Sunday in the Republic of Dagestan following a long-term anti-terror operation by Russia's security forces.

Abu Havs was allegedly an Al-Qaida representative who sponsored terrorist activities and masterminded many attacks in the region.

Political analyst Aleksey Malashenko from the Carnegie Endownment says Abu Havs death is good news for the region.

“I think it really has a positive influence, as this representative was sent to the region with a political mission. First, he was responsible for military training and he organised training camps in Dagestan and, by the way, in Georgia. Secondly, he was responsible for supplying weapons, which was also a very important problem for security of the region. Besides, he was, let me say, a manager of some financial problems of the people in Chechnya and Dagestan. In short, he was a very important person. I do believe that his extermination will have a so-called political impact, particularly on the situation in Dagestan,” Mr Malashenko said.

Mr Malashenko also spoke about the possibility of a new emissary of Al-Qaeda being sent to the region.

“If they send somebody to the region again, it will mean that some organisations in Saudi Arabia are ready to continue to support the radical Islamic resistance in the North Caucasus; if not, it will mean that Saudi Arabia and some people in the Middle East refuse to continue to render any assistance to their ‘brothers in faith’ in the region. So, let us see,” he added.